Improvement in toe-weights for trotting-horses



J. SELBY & M. D. SPURGK. TOE WEIGHT FOR TROTTINGIORSES. N 174,9Z5 Patented March 21,1876.

N.FE|'ERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE}.

JAMES SELBY AND MICHAEL D. SPURGK, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOE-WEIGHTS FOR TROTTlNG-HORSE S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,925, dated March 21, 1876; application filed December 14, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES SELBY and MI- OHAEL D. SPURGK, both of the city of Peoria, in the county of Peoria, in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Toe-Weights for Trotting Horses; and do hereby declare that the following 'isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making. a part of this specification, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the hoof and attached toe-weight; Fig. 2, a superficial view.

This is an improvement in toe-weights for horses, colts, pacers, and miXed-gaited horses, which are used to reduce their gait to a measured trot, in which said weight is formed to receive additional weights, if necessary.

In the drawings, which represent the hoof, shoe, and toe-weight, A is'hoof; B, the shoe, of the ordinary kind, pierced upward verticaily at the'toe to admit a bolt, a,which passes through the weight 0 above it, which is made to conform to the shape of the front of the hoof, and to fit snugly thereto, and terminating in a Hat surface on top. For the purpose of adding to this weight 0 the bolt 0!, is made long enough to admit of passing through a thin weight, I), lying flat upon the weight 0, (and even others above this, if necessary,) to obtain the desired action of gait. Each plate,

conforming to the front curve of the animals hoof, helps, with the nut on the upper end of said bolt, to keep the whole intact, and solidify the primary and secondary weights.

The weight or weights need not project beyond the point of the shoe, and should not; but, if desired, the primary weight 0 may be forged with or welded to the shoe, leaving the proper necessary hollow between it and said shoe, to receive the toe of the hoof. So, too, the bolt-head under the shoe may be recessed in the latter, so as not to project beyond the surface of said shoe.

The advantages of this toe-weight over the old forms are obvious, and have been above stated, viz: Avoidance of accident by flying off the foot; of not compressing and injuring the heel; of being more solid in its application or attachment, and for the facility of attachment of the thin extra weights, if necessary.

What we claim as our invention is The toe-Weight composed of the sections O b,"and secured by the bolt a, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing toe-weight for horses we have hereunto set our hands this 7th day of December, 1875.-

JAMES SELBY. MICHAEL D. SPUROK.

Witnesses:

G. H. KETTELLE, JOHN F. ANTHONY. 

